Unit IV Political Participation
Chapters 17-20
What is a political party?
• A group of people who seek to control
government by winning elections and holding
office
What are the two major U.S. parties
today?
• Democrats : represented by a Donkey
• Republicans: represented by an Elephant
(GOP)
What are the 5 Functions of political
parties in the United States?
• Nominating Function: naming a person to be
the choice of the party to run for an office
• Informer-Stimulator Function: campaigning
for candidates; getting information to the
voters about the candidates and the issues
that will inspire them to cast a vote.
• Bonding Agent /Seal of Approval Function:
the party’s guarantee that their nominee is
“the BEST person” for the job.
• Governmental or Governing Function: the
idea that the government operates on the
basis of political party
– Example:
• Seating in Congress
• The Cabinet
• Diplomatic Posts
• Watchdog Function: the parties engaging in
negative campaigning or criticizing the ideas,
issues ,and candidates of the other party
What is a two party system?
• A political system in which a nation-state has
two major parties that regularly put forth
candidates for office.
Why does the US have a 2 party
system?
• History: we have always had 2 parties because
we started with 2 parties
• Practicality: it’s easier to win a majority if only
two candidates for office
• Theoretically: the Electoral College System is
based on only having 2 candidates
• Ideologically: Americans generally fit within
the philosophy of one of the 2 parties
What is a One Party System?
• Political system in which a nation-state has
only one party
• Always results in a dictatorship
• One party exists because all others are illegal
What is a multi-party system?
• A system in which a nation-state has more
than 2 major parties that regularly offer
candidates to the voters.
• Can lead to political instability
• No one is in charge
What were the first Two Parties in the
United States?
• Federalists (become the Republicans )
• Democratic –Republicans (become the
Democrats)
• Why did they begin? Debate over ratification
of the Constitution divided people into two
groups.
What is a Minor or Third Party?
• A small party that nominates candidates for office, but
rarely wins. Also called an opposition party.
– Examples:
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Labor Party
American Nazi Party
The Green Party
The Populist Party (People’s Party)
American Independent Party
Libertarian Party
Natural Law Party
Workers World Party
Pink Triangle Party
Blue Square Party
ETC…
The Four Types of Third Party
• Ideological Parties: parties based upon a
unique set of political beliefs
– Examples:
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American Communist Party
American Nazi Party
Socialist Party
Libertarian Party
Single Issue Parties
• A party that is concerned with only one
political issue
– Examples:
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Know-nothing Party
Free Soil Party (also known as Americans Only Party)
Prohibition Party
Woman’s Party
Right to Life Party
Economic Protest Parties
• Parties that are rooted in times of economic
distress and that promote new alternatives to
the conditions.
– Examples:
• Greenback Party
• Populist Party
• United We Stand America
Splinter Parties
• Political parties that have broken away from
the Democrats or Republicans
– Examples:
• Bull-moose Party (Progressive Party)
• Dixiecrats
Three Roles of Third Parties
• Spoiler: take enough votes away from a major
party candidate that you ruin his chances
• Critic: criticize the ideas and actions of both
major parties
• Innovator: bring new ideas to public’s
attention. Usually stolen by major parties if
popular
Voting Options
• Split Ticket Voting: Vote for candidates from
both parties on the same ballot
• Straight Ticket Voting: voting for only one
party on the ballot
Voters and Voter Behavior
Terms that mean right to vote
• Suffrage
• Franchise
The Electorate
• The potential voting population
• NOT those who do vote, but those who
COULD
– Age
– Registration
– Residency
– Felony Record
– Etc…
Universal Suffrage
• All adult citizens can vote
• Is it possible?
• What restrictions do we have that prevent it?
Five stages of suffrage in US History
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Removing religious requirements (1840-60’s)
15th Amendment ( remove racial limitations)
19th Amendment (remove gender restrictions)
Civil Rights Acts (punish discrimination)
26th Amendment (remove age restrictions)
Universal Voting Requirements
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Citizenship
Residence
Age
Registration
Residency Requirements
• Require that a person maintain a legal residence
in a city, county, or State for a period of time to
be eligible to vote
• Legal because:
– People should familiarize themselves w/ issue and
candidates
– States have an interest in preventing voter fraud
*In Texas, you must be a resident for 30 days prior to the
election to be eligible to vote.
Motor Voter Law
• Allows people to register to vote when they
renew their driver’s license.
Oregon v. Mitchell
• Outlawed the use of literacy tests as a
qualification for voting .
• Tests were used to discriminate against
minorities and poor whites.
Who is ineligible to vote in Texas?
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Mentally Ill
Mentally Incompetent
Felons
Non-citizens
Homeless
Dishonorably Discharged from military
• Called “cannot voters” because they cannot
legally vote.
Voter requirements in Texas
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Be at least 18 years of age on election day
Be a US citizen
Register 30 days prior to the election
Be a resident 30 days prior to the election
Methods used by Southern States to
prevent minority voting
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White Primaries
Grandfather Clauses
Poll tax
Literacy Tests
Property Tax Payments
Gerrymandering
Intimidation
Lynching
Etc…
Gerrymandering
• The illegal practice of drawing lines for
congressional districts to the advantage of the
majority
Court Cases
• Baker V. Carr
• Wesberry v. Sanders
What is an idiot?
• It is a Greek word for one who does not vote
or participate in politics
Major reasons people give for not
voting:
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Apathy (don’t care)
Voting is too difficult
Don’t have the time
Didn’t register
Don’t know where to go
Don’t have transportation
Ill
Etc…
What is a non-voter?
• One who is eligible to vote, but chooses not to
do so. (also called an idiot!)
What is a cannot voter?
• One who is not eligible to vote
What is a non-voting voter?
• One who does not vote on all the choices on
the ballot.
• Example: you vote only for President, not
Senate, House, etc…
Political Socialization
• The process by which one gains one’s political
attitudes and beliefs.
• #1 Source: MOM and DAD!
Sociological Factors that Impact Voting
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Family #1
Age
Race
Income
Occupation
Religion
Party membership/affiliation
Friends (peer pressure)
Opinion Leaders
Location of residence
Type of residence
Etc…
Psychological Factors that Impact
Voting
• Party Identification
• Your feelings about the candidates
• How the issues impact you personally
The Election Process
Nomination
• The process of naming a person to be a
candidate for political office
Methods of Nomination
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Self –announcement
Caucus
Convention (pres only)
Primary (#1 used today)
Petition (local elections)
Three types of primaries:
• Closed : only registered party members can
vote
• Open: voters may chose which party’s ballot
to vote on the day of the election
• Blanket: voters may vote on BOTH party’s
ballots
Why do some States choose to have
closed primaries?
• It makes voters choose both a party and
candidates
• It makes the candidates more responsive to
their party’s issues and agenda
• It prevents “primary raiding”
Why are closed primaries illegal in
Texas?
• If a voter is required to reveal their party
membership, it is no longer a secret ballot
• Closed primaries exclude independent voters
• Closed primaries have been used to
discriminate against the poor and minorities
• It violates our State Constitution!
When are congressional elections
held?
• On the Tuesday, following the first Monday in
November of every even numbered year!
How much did the 2012 Presidential
election cost?
• $5.3 Billion !
• $176 for every man, woman, and child in the
US
Where did all that $ come from?
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Small donors : people who give $5-50
“Fat Cats”
Candidates themselves
PACs: Political Action Committees (fund raising
arms of special interests)
Temporary Organizations: created to support one
candidate (FOB : Friends of Bill)
Fund-raisers
Public subsidies
Etc…
Why do people give $ to
candidates/campaigns?
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Believe in candidate/campaign
Want access to people in office
Want an appointment
Want to get a promotion
Seeking social status
Want to have dinner at the White House or a ride
on Air Force I
• Want to effect a change in policy
• Want to change a government regulation
• Etc…
What does the FEC regulate?
• The Federal Election Commission regulates
four areas of campaign finance:
– Timely disclosure of data
– Limitations on contributions
– Limitations on spending
– Public funding of Presidential elections
Buckley v. Valeo
• Supreme Court rules that campaign donations
are a form of free speech and can be limited,
but not outlawed.
– Can limit donations; indirect speech
– Cannot limit personal spending; direct speech
Loopholes in Campaign Finance Law
• Soft Money: unlimited funds that can be given
to parties for educational efforts or party
building
• Independent Expenditures: individuals
spending own $ on own ads supporting
candidate or cause; unlimited
• Issue Ads: independent ads that compare
stands on issues but do not support a
candidate; unlimited
Citizens United v. FEC, 2010
• Struck down parts of the Campaign Finance
Reform Act of 2002
• Corporations and Labor Unions may NOT
directly contribute to candidates/campaigns
• Corporations and Labor Unions MAY use their
funds for independent ads and PACs
• Disclosure Requirements were upheld by the
Court
Mass Media and Public Opinion
Public Opinion
• A collection of the attitudes held by many
people on issues of politics and government
How is public opinion shaped?
• By factors like:
– Family
– School
– Religion
– Occupation
– Group memberships
– Opinion leaders
– Etc…
How is public opinion measured?
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Election Results
Interest Group Surveys
Media Counts
Personal Contacts
Scientific Polls (best and most accurate way)
Opinion Leaders
• People that you admire, trust, respect, and
whose opinions matter to you
• People who have the power to influence you
• Different group for everyone
Politicians are always looking for someone who
has an impact on many people.
Mass Media
• Any means of communication that reaches a
large, diverse audience
• Examples:
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TV
Radio
Internet
Social Media
Newspapers
Magazines
Etc…
Interest Groups
Interest Groups
• An organization of people that tries to persuade
government officials to respond to their members
interests.
• Examples:
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NRA: National Rifle Association
AMA: American Medical Association
AARP: American Association of Retired Citizens
Common Cause
National Taxpayers Union
ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union
ETC…
Functions of Interest Groups
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Stimulate interest in public policy
Represent their members’ views
Provide information
Ensure that government officials act
appropriately
Criticisms of Interest Groups
• They have too much influence over politicians
• Can’t always tell who they really represent
• Use of unethical or illegal practices
Propaganda
• The use of language to persuade people to your
point of view
• Techniques:
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Plain Folks
Bandwagon
Name Calling
Glittering Generalities
Transfer
Testimonial
Card Stacking
Lobbying
• The use of group pressure to try to influence
public policy
• Lobbyist: one who seeks to influence a
government officials
• Called lobbyists because they used to hang
out in the lobby of the Willard Hotel trying to
catch President Grant.
Lobbying Techniques
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Polite Persuasion
Provide information
Write bills
Wine and Dine
Testify as experts in congressional hearings
Write letters
Provide junkets (field trips for Congress)
Raise Money!
Current Legislation regulating
Lobbying
• Donations must be disclosed
• Cannot give anything valued over $50 to a
member of Congress
• Can take a member of Congress to a meal or
event twice a year for $50 or less
• No regulation on gift to staff members